I recently attended a panel discussion of hospital CEOs and CNOs. Two of the executives were touting how their facilities had just recently “stopped all non-emergent inductions and elective cesareans prior to 36 weeks”. They were so proud of this decision to “do the right thing” but lamented how it had impacted their bottom line. Why did it impact their bottom line? Because they experienced a significant (25%) reduction in NICU days. I wanted to stand up and shout “why would you induce or deliver by cesarean any expectant mother if it is not medically necessary?”

Comments (11)

“Why can I pay bills, adjust my home thermostat, email across the world, and make dinner reservations with the device I have in my pocket, but health information cannot be tracked and shared in a way the prevents costly and deadly medical errors?”

I no longer work for Epic, but they are changing healthcare for the better.

I’ve heard of physicians scheduling an induction and elective cesarean because they prefer their schedules to be, well, scheduled rather than left to the whims of the baby who makes the decision when to arrive (often at an inconvenient times or day).

It’s really a shame that hospitals perform as many C-sections as they do when natural birthing is much more safe and a lot more affordable. Despite being more affordable, insurance companies refuse to compensate for midwife deliveries.

A C-section is a major operation. They cut open the front of a woman’s stomach, remove the entire uterus and place it on the woman’s stomach, then remove the baby only to place the uterus back into the woman and sew her up. Yes, medical technology is advanced and C-sections are performed all the time, but they are taken too lightly. The fact that hospitals perform these dangerous operations when they are not necessary is utterly reprehensible, perhaps even criminally negligent!

If the family was even partially responsible for the cost of the delivery, we would see a marked reduction in these elective surgeries. I am inclined to agree with the old wives notion that “the baby knows when is best”.
My baby sister was born at home. My mum is a nurse, we had her nurse friends and a midwife there, and everything went perfectly. I personally believe that the hospital environment is far too stressful on the mother.